Kiwi Mare On Track for Caloundra Cup

New Zealand mare High Kin will continue her Queensland winter campaign in Saturday week’s $200,000 Caloundra Cup (2400m) after impressing on Australian debut at Ipswich on Saturday.

High Kin will run in Saturday week's Caloundra Cup. Photo by: Daniel Costello.

The five-year-old was a narrow runner-up to upset winner Anagold in the Ipswich Cup, filling trainer David Greene with confidence ahead of the Sunshine Coast feature.

Greene is expecting his charge to improve with the extra distance on offer in her next assignment and was pleased with how she powered through the line on Saturday.

“Unfortunately the winning post came up a few metres short, otherwise she would have got up,” Greene told New Zealand’s The Informant.

“She found the line very well though.”

Greene believes he has every reason to think High Kin can make her way into the winner’s stall at the Sunshine Coast, suggesting she wasn’t completely at home around the tight-turning Ipswich track.

With extra distance, more room to move and a big straight to unleash her finish, the High Chaparral mare is expected to be more suited on Saturday week.

“She struggled around the tight turns but her last 100m was very good,” Greene said.

Also likely to benefit the Kiwi is a potential wet track, with the timing of the meeting meaning it is often run on a rain-affected surface.

Of High Kin’s four career wins from 15 starts, three have come on tracks rated slow or worse.

Also likely to target the Caloundra Cup is Victorian mare Lake Sententia who is expected to bypass this weekend’s Tattersall’s Cup despite being one of 16 horses entered for the race today.

The Darren Weir-trained four-year-old has been in terrific form this preparation, winning her two most recent starts and finishing third in the Group 2 Queen Of The South Stakes at Morphetville in April.

Author: Isaac Ling

Isaac is a dedicated racing journalist and horse owner who is always trying to find a winner. He has a keen interest in all aspects of the industry and enjoys telling the stories of its participants. Likes his job and Black Caviar.